Youth Forum: Power and Politics

"Engage in civil dialogue. Gain as much dialogue as you can, so you can make informed decisions." – Christen DuVernay

Landslide election wins are increasingly uncommon. No president has won the popular vote with a double digit lead since 1984. So what contributes to campaigns? Money? Demographics? What role do youth play?

According to the Federal Election Commission, the 2012 election presidential candidates spent a cumulative $7 billion on their campaign bids, beating the previous unprecedented total of $6 billion in 2008. Campaign spending is increasing cycle to cycle and this year is no exception. Simultaneously, demographics of the nation are changing. Over two-thirds of the growth in the American electorate since 2012 is attributableto racial and ethnic minorities. 2016 also marks the first year where most millennials are eligible to vote in comparable numbers to baby boomers (both comprise about 31% of the electorate). How do these influencing factors impact each other? What role do youth who cannot vote play?

Join us for the first Youth Forum of the year on politics and power.

Panelists

Christen DuVernayDirector of Look Up to Cleveland, Cleveland Leadership Center

Pat McDonaldDirector, Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

Joseph White, Ph.D.Luxenberg Family Professor of Public Policy, Department of Political Science, Case Western Reserve University